[user38368]
Tom McEvoy raises to 400 under the gun and a middle-position player calls. The big blind also calls.
The flop is and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 1,000 and the MP player folds. The opponent calls. The turn is and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 1,600 and the opponent calls. The river is and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 2,000 and the opponent calls. McEvoy shows and is up to 32,000.
[user75032]
Jerry Yang is making his way around the room, shaking hands with anyone and everyone. It's like a receiving line at a wedding, except that Yang is seeking out the well-wishers, rather than having them come to him.
Shamus
Among the many amateur hopefuls here today is William Davidson, a retired GM factory worker from South Carolina.
Last year Davidson qualified for the Main Event via PokerStars for just $14. He made it all of the way to 382nd last year and into the money. This year Davidson also qualified via PokerStars, this time investing $80 to do so.
Also here today is Steve Biko, a sales representative for a computer networking company. Unlike Davidson, Biko bought his way into today's event for the full ten grand, though he says he's made his buy-in (and more) playing on Full Tilt.
Davidson and Biko are just two of hundreds of others here today who are hoping to emerge from the sea of unknowns to be the next Jerry Yang.
[user37786]
We've been playing for about 45 minutes now and David Bach is already well into his usual massage therapy session. It's not unusual for players to receive massages at the table--at any given moment there are probably several dozen players getting rubdowns.
But Bach takes it to another level. During the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship Bach had something along the lines of an eight-hour massage, one that involved some serious arm-contorting and spine-snapping jolts. Today Bach is getting his neck and shoulders rubbed with such ferocity that he's shaking like a bobblehead. Everyone has their own methods for getting in the proper mood for a long, long day at the table.
[user67765]
Neil Channing
We are expecting plenty of fireworks today from a table featuring both Ram Vaswani and Neil Channing. It didn't take long for them to be involved in a hand. Vaswani called down bets on all streets but Channing took down the pot with a set of sevens.
Channing is up to 23,250 and Vaswani falls to 16,900.
donpeters
Ted Forrest (event #45) eliminated from today's Main Event
After the issue was cleared up with Ted Forrest's I.D., he didn't last too long.
According to the dealer at the table, six players limped in preflop and then the button, Giles Smadia, raised to 600. Only Forrest made the call after limping.
The flop came down . Forrest bet out 2,000. Giles raised to 7,000. forrest then moved all in for 19,000 total and Giles made the call. Forrest was covered by Giles.
Forrest:
Smadia:
Forrest held the best hand with a set of deuces, but Smadia had a big draw. The turn came the and Forrest needed to dodge the river.
The ESPN cameras hovered around the table as the dealer smacked the on the river, completing the flush for Smadia.
Forrest counted down his chips, verified that Smadia had him covered, and then quickly exited the area. He left his bag and phone at the table and didn't really seem to care that they were behind.
[user40108]
Reigning Main Event Champion Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang, who had been watching the action from behind the rail with the spectators, decided he needed to have a quick chat with Greg Raymer and got the attention of one of our reporters.
"Excuse me," said Yang. "Do you think it would be OK if I went into the tournament area real quick to talk to Greg Raymer?" he asked.
"I think that would probably be just fine," answered our reporter with a hint of intrigue. Yang cautiously proceeded past the ropes and into the tournament area.
In the age of high-profile pros, many of whom have a blatant disregard for the rules and walk around "like they own the place," it's refreshing to see the current ambassador of our sport genuinely act as though he is no different than anybody else.
MarcC
Down but not out
Last years eighth-place finisher, Lee Watkinson, has lost over half his stack already. He called a raise to 300 whilst on the button from a player in middle position.
On the Watkinson bet 1,500 once it was checked to him. He bet 3,000 when it was checked to him again on the turn. He was called again before the dropped on the river.
This time he bet 5,000 when it was checked to him and he was called once more. He flipped over for a baby flush, but it was no good against his opponent's nut flush with .
[user75032]
Jamie Gold
Now that Jamie Gold's table is finally playing with the correct blinds, the pots have gotten a bit bigger. With Gold playing every hand, his stack has taken a hit.
After three players checked a flop of , Gold bet 1,000 when the turn fell . He got one caller, who called again on the river and showed . Gold nodded and mucked his hand.
He's down to about 14,600, but let everyone at his table know that he started the day in the same seat back in 2006, when he went on to win the Main Event.
![[user38368]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 1,000 and the MP player folds. The opponent calls. The turn is 
and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 1,600 and the opponent calls. The river is 
and the opponent checks. McEvoy bets 2,000 and the opponent calls. McEvoy shows 
and is up to 32,000.
and Forrest needed to dodge the river.
on the river, completing the flush for Smadia.
Watkinson bet 1,500 once it was checked to him. He bet 3,000 when it was checked to him again on the 
turn. He was called again before the 
dropped on the river.
for a baby flush, but it was no good against his opponent's nut flush with 
and the big blind bet out 1,100. Tomko again called. 
and Tomko mucked his hand. 
, Gold bet 1,000 when the turn fell 
. He got one caller, who called again on the river 
and showed 
. Gold nodded and mucked his hand.